The average cost of a wedding now hovers around $30,000 {Yikes! } with the median cost (closer to what most people spend) around $18,000. Either way, you’re spending a LOT of money. So where does it all go? Here’s roughly how the budget breaks down, vendor by vendor.
(The number in parentheses is what you’d spend if your budget was $18,000.)
- Catering (including food and beverages) 40% ($7,200)
- Venue 10% ($1,800)
- Photography and Video 10% ($1,800)
- Music 8% ($1,440)
- Flowers (including bouquets and decorations) 8% ($1,440)
- Bride’s Dress (including alterations) 5% ($900)
- Wedding Rings 4% ($720)
- Invitations and Stationery 3% ($540)
- Cake 2% ($360)
- Bride’s Accessories 2% ($360)
- Groom’s Attire 2% ($360)
- Transportation 2% ($360)
- Hair and Makeup (including trials) 1% ($180)
- Favors 1% ($180)
- Officiant 1% ($180)
- Wedding Party Gifts 1% ($180)
Obviously some of the numbers can be shuffled: If your venue is free, you can add $1,800 to your music budget—and you don’t have to hand out favors, so that $180 can be bumped to another category. But for the most part, if you have a traditional wedding, your budget will shake out something like this.
Does this breakdown reflect your budget? Or is your spending totally different?
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